Eiji Tsukuda and Yuzuru Matsuda
Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., 1188
Shimotogari, Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka 411 - 8731, Japan
Abstract: We examined the effect of benidipine, a 1,4-dihydropyridine
calcium channel blocker, on depolarizing stimulation-induced increases of
intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured
mouse hippocampal neurons in comparison with those of nicardipine and nilvadipine.
Benidipine (0.1 - 10 ƒÊM) inhibited the [Ca2+]i increase
compared with the no drug control response. This effect was stronger than
those of nicardipine and nilvadipine. The inhibitory effect of benidipine
lasted even after washing out the drug for 125 min, while those of nicardipine
and nilvadipine disappeared more rapidly. This is the first report that
demonstrates that benidipine inhibits the [Ca2+]i
increase in the neuron itself.
Keywords: Benidipine, Intracellular calcium concentration, Neuron